Joshua 4
1 Now when all the nation had finished crossing the Jordan, the Lord spoke to Joshua, saying, 2 “Take for yourselves twelve men from the people, one man from each tribe, 3 and command them, saying, ‘Take up for yourselves twelve stones from here out of the middle of the Jordan, from the place where the priests’ feet are standing firm, and carry them over with you and lay them down in the lodging place where you will lodge tonight.’” 4 So Joshua called the twelve men whom he had appointed from the sons of Israel, one man from each tribe; 5 and Joshua said to them, “Cross again to the ark of the Lord your God into the middle of the Jordan, and each of you take up a stone on his shoulder, according to the number of the tribes of the sons of Israel. 6 Let this be a sign among you, so that when your children ask later, saying, ‘What do these stones mean to you?’ 7 then you shall say to them, ‘Because the waters of the Jordan were cut off before the ark of the covenant of the Lord; when it crossed the Jordan, the waters of the Jordan were cut off.’ So these stones shall become a memorial to the sons of Israel forever.”
Today in the United States, we observe Memorial Day. It’s a day when we pay homage to those who have lost their lives in defense of our country. Most Americans will go through the day paying scant notice of the solemnity of the event. Our nation has lost touch with the sacrifices that were and are being paid for freedom.
Yet a trip to any military cemetery stands as a silent reminder that a price has been paid for our freedom. And because this is a fallen, sinful world, wars and rumors of wars will go on, and if we are to be free, the price will continue to be paid.
We should look to God’s Word for guidance. Just as Joshua spoke to Israel, we should tell our children what those stones of white mean- of the great sacrifice that was paid, over many years, because of the great blessings God has given us. Evil will always assault freedom. And freedom must be ready to stand in opposition to tyranny.
“Freedom is not free” may be a bumper sticker for some. But on this most solemn observance in our American holidays, we must testify to the fact that freedom has a price in blood.
And just as our warriors died for our freedom from earthly tyranny, Christ died on the Cross, shedding His blood, to pay the price for our freedom- freedom from an eternity in Hell. Make this day one of remembering your freedom, and if you are have not asked Jesus to be your Lord and Savior, please consider doing so today. If the price our warriors have paid, which is so great a price, is precious to us in this world, how much greater a price has Christ paid for our eternal freedom?